TV Editor Jasmine Davies reviews Last One Laughing UK, highlighting how it showcases the very best of the British Stand-up comedy scene
Last One Laughing UK takes a simple YouTube Try Not to Laugh compilation to a whole new level. If you’re a fan of panel shows such as Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, I guarantee you’ll recognise all the contestants in this lineup. With a cast made up of Bob Mortimer, Daisy May Cooper, Joe Lycett, Judi Love, Rob Beckett, Sara Pascoe, Lou Sanders, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, and Richard Ayoade – how could you not laugh being stuck in a room with them?
Hosted by Jimmy Carr, and special guest Roisin Conaty, Last One Laughing UK gathers some of the most beloved British comedians and throws them into a Big Brother-style house together. They all share the same goal: don’t laugh. The show runs on a yellow and red card system – one laugh earns you a yellow card; two laughs, and you’re out.
Personally, I don’t think I could last long at all being in a house with faces like Bob Mortimer and Joe Wilkinson and not laughing. The awkward silence almost makes all the jokes funnier – especially when they’re delivered in such a deadpan way.
The lengths the comedians go to in order to make each other laugh is ridiculous in the best way possible – chaotic physical comedy, bizarre props, or just Richard Ayoade being himself. In further attempts to make the comics crack, there are surprise appearances from some of our favourite British celebrities.
“The lengths the comedians go to in order to make each other laugh is ridiculous in the best way possible
To make things even more interesting, Jimmy Carr occasionally phones into the house, where the contestants must “play their joker.” This means performing a comedy routine for the rest of the house in an effort to break their composure. Who would have thought Joe Wilkinson giving a speech on the RNLI could be so entertaining?
The addition of the “joker” also gave me a taste of the stand-up routines from comedians I was less familiar with. Lou Sanders, for example – someone I only knew from her occasional quips on panel shows – proved to be simply joyous.
If it returns for a second season, there are definitely areas for improvement. The format did become a little repetitive at times, and there’s room to introduce more variety. Maybe new methods for making contestants laugh, or fresh twists – like the immunity hat – could keep the format exciting. Even branching out to include non-comedians, who are humorous in their own right, could make for interesting TV.
All episodes of Last One Laughing UK are currently available on Prime. If you’re a fan of British comedy, this is definitely the show for you. So, who do you think will be the last one laughing?
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